I was fifteen when my parents and their river friends took me on my first multi-day river trip down the Main Salmon. I had to miss out on the last day of junior high, which seemed devastating at the time. My mom bargained that this trip was a once in a lifetime experience, and it would be totally worth it. It rained 5 of 7 days, and we had cheap gear, so I had to pee in my wet suit and jump in the river to get unfrozen and in working order in the mornings. My now-famous line was, “you’re dam right this is a once in a lifetime experience because I’m never doing this again!” The turning point was Mackay Bar, and the sun came out long enough to thaw and enjoy a mid-trip ice cream. Fast forward five years, and I was a full-fledged river guide on the Snake. I found my own river people and the feeling of connection to something greater, a true addiction.